ORLANDO — Blountstown’s winning formula was neutralized by Trenton on Friday.
It was Trenton that was more dominant on defense and it defeated Blountstown 14-0 for the Class 1A state football championship at the Citrus Bowl.
Top-ranked Blountstown was shut out for the first time since Aug. 31, 2012, in falling to 13-1. Trenton, ranked fourth, won its first state title a year after finishing second and improved to 12-1 with its 11th consecutive victory.
(Click here for full game statistics)
Trenton reversed the trend exhibited in Blountstown’s playoff run. Trenton’s defense kept Blountstown in check with two early sacks and it controlled the second half. Blountstown couldn’t maintain its dose of tough, grinding offense coupled with a punishing defense in its first state final appearance since 2004.
Blountstown’s defense remained difficult to penetrate, but its offense was inefficient. It gained only 142 yards on 54 plays and nearly had as many penalty yards (136) with 14 flags. Blountstown also had been winning the turnover battle in recent weeks, but had three on Friday, the same number as Trenton.
Blountstown couldn’t gain any traction in the first half against a quick and athletic Trenton defense. Blountstown was forced into punts on its first five possessions and didn’t record its initial first down until six minutes before halftime on a 25-yard pass completion between Dylan Lee and Hunter Jordan.
The first down came on Blountstown’s seventh possession and second-longest drive of the game, six plays for 30 yards. It also ended in a punt. Jordan unleashed a 62-yarder to pin Trenton at its 3-yard line. Blountstown lost a fumble by Fabian Solomon to end its sixth possession.
Trenton punted on its final two possessions and also had three turnovers in the first half. Hamp Cheevers lost the ball inside the Blountstown 10 on his second and final reception of the game. Cheevers had 102 of Trenton’s 114 total yards in the first 24 minutes. Trenton had four first-half punts to go along with its three fumbles.
Cheevers opened the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown catch from Stephen Smith late in the first quarter on third-and-14. It was the first points yielded by Blountstown in the opening quarter this season. Trenton had only 1 yard on nine other plays from scrimmage in the quarter.
Blountstown’s best chance for an answer in the first half started at the Trenton 38 following a punt. Blountstown moved to the 31 for fourth-and-2, but Shon Peterson was stopped for a 7-yard loss on his first carry of the game.
Trenton capped the scoring when Micheal Smith returned an interception of Jordan 35 yards for a touchdown with 6:27 to play in the third quarter. Micheal Smith grabbed one of three completed passes by Stephen Smith. Cheevers added a long rush and finished with 124 total yards.
Trenton was held to 199 yards and six first downs. It also was penalized eight times for 104 yards. Lee and Jordan combined to complete 4 of 11 passes for 63 yards and two interceptions.
Blountstown leading rusher Alex Mayorga was limited to 18 yards on 11 carries. Ja’Vakiel Brigham led Blountstown with 30 yards on nine carries. Brigham also paced the defense with eight tackles, seven solo, while Dewayne Laramore had seven stops and Corin Peterson five.
Melvin Adams gained a game-high 38 yards on the ground and Jacquez Powell added 31 for Trenton. Stephen Smith passed for 110 yards on three completions.
Class 1A championship
Trenton 7 0 7 0 — 14
Blountstown 0 0 0 0 — 0
First quarter
THS — Cheevers 54 pass from SSmith (Mannerstedt kick) 2:39, 7-0 THS
Third quarter
THS — MSmith 35 interception return (Mannerstedt kick) 6:27, 14-0
Individual statistics
Rushing — THS: Adams 13-38, Powell 13-31, Cheevers 1-22, SSmith 4-(-2); BHS: Brigham 9-30, Solomon 2-21, CPeterson 6-19, AMayorga 11-18, Jordan 8-4, JMayorga 2-(-2), Team 1-(-2), Lee 3-(-2), SPeterson 1-(-7).
Passing — THS: Smith 3-10-0-110; BHS: Lee 3-7-1-60, Jordan 1-4-1-3.
Receiving — THS: Cheevers 2-102, MSmith 1-8; BHS: JMayorga 2-20, Jordan 1-25, AMayorga 1-18.